The Escape SE Trim 2018
By The English Car Guy Dave Hazell
The SE is the lower mid-level trim found on the Ford Escape and sits nestled between the S and SEL. With its many options and features the SE will most likely be Fords best performing trim in sales. In fact, last year Escape sales rose to a whopping 308,296 and it's expected to grow again though I do think that the Ecosport might steal some of those sales away. Available in front wheel drive and intelligent four wheel drive this vehicle can conquer any terrain that Utah can throw at it.
As always I will break my review into 4 categories Performance, Cosmetics, Safety and Technology. So grab a cup of tea as we take a look at the SE Trim Escape.
Performance
The SE no longer has two engine options gone is the 2.0L EcoBoost I-4 which is now the standard Titanium engine and left is the 1.5L EcoBoost I-4 which replaced the 1.6L a few years back (Thank goodness) Like the 2.5i VCT I-4 engine this engine is paired with the 6-speed SelectShift automatic. This is a fantastic engine and boast a nice bit of power though it does feel like more than what Fords numbers say they are.
179 hp @6,ooo rpm and 177 lb.-ft of torque @2,500 rpm
he gas mileage is better than the 2.5 and 2.0 due to the Auto start stop feature which is an option you can choose to turn on or off. You should expect to get the following miles per gallon.
FWD 23 city/30 highway/26 combined
4WD 22 city/28 highway/24 combined
You'll notice that the 4-wheel drive Escape even gets the same gas mileage as the front wheel drive S trim with 2.5i VCT I-4 engine. The cost of ownership is also low and you can expect to pay $1,251 for gas per year based on 12,000 miles a year.
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Cosmetics
This where it gets a little interesting as the SE has two choices in Exterior options. The standard option and the SE Sport Appearance package. So let's take a quick look into each.
Standard SE
The SE has several upgrades from the S. The door handles and side mirrors change from the black plastic to match the body color, also changing is the front grille which again turns from a black plastic to a Silver painted grille with chrome bar inserts and surround. The roof gets a roof rack side bars with the option to add crossbars and you also upgrade your interior and can choose from two color options. Interior options which are shown below are Medium Light Stone and Unique Charcoal Black Cloth. As for wheel options you don't get to choose the only available choice is the 17" Sparkle Silver-Painted Aluminum wheel. (As Seen Below)
SE Sports Appearance Package
The SE Sport Appearance package is pretty wicked, but it is either something you like or not at all. The rim jumps a few sizes to a 19" Ebony black-painted aluminum wheel the front fender grilles, beltline molding, headlamps and taillamp bezels and side view mirrors all become black too. On the inside the seats become a partial leather but you lose the light interior option as it keeps that black theme into the inside.
Both vehicles are available in all 10 color choices though I would suggest opting against some in the Sport Appearance as the black can clash. Those available colors are Oxford White,White Platinum, Ingot Silver, White Gold, Cinnamon Glaze, Ruby Red, Blue, Lightning Blue, Magnetic and Shadow Black.
Safety
The Escape received a 5 out of 5 star overall crash test rating from NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) which you can view at Safecar.gov. This gives you the peace of mind to know your family and friends are safe in a Ford Escape. The SE loses no safety features over the higher models and with the introduction of the Safe and Smart package your SE can have some great peace of mind and showoff options. Included in that package is adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with brake support, BLIS with Cross Traffic alert, Lane Keep System and much more. (Click on the Safe and Smart package for more info)
As with any higher trim you'll get the options found on the S some of those features are Personal Safety System, Front side, Knee and Canopy airbags, LATCH System, MyKey, SOS Post-Crash Alert System, Tire Pressure Monitoring System and AdvancTrac with RSC (Roll Stability Control).
Technology
This is why I tell people to buy a SE over a S. In a S vs SE the SE would win every time. Standard features now include a 10-way power driver's seat which is heated!! As to is the passenger seat. Rear view camera of course is standard and no longer will fights happen in the car over temperature as Dual Zone Climate control is no longer a luxury car thing. Also made available is Sync 3 with the beautiful 8' color display and the option for navigation. Again standard options of the S will migrate over which include Sync with 911 assist which enables you to have a paired Bluetooth device to your vehicle and unlike Chevys OnStar its completely free. Other features like the available USB port allows you to play music, charge a phone or even use Apps on your phone like iHeart radio or Pandora
Review
The Escape SE is a fantastic vehicle and a fantastic choice of trim. Starting at $25,655 this vehicle will fit most Utah resident's budgets. A great family starter car or college campus run about this vehicle will tick most boxes. I hope this article helps if you have a question please feel free to write a comment in the comment section or email me directly at SuperFordTV@Gmail.com
Cheerio!